Twisting device



Oct. 16, 1962 J. RAscHLE TWISTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 3l, 1961 B/o SEP# Pase/w. E. W/Mmwk/m Oct. 16, 1962 J. RAscHLE 3,958,289

TwIsTING DEVICE Filed oct. s1, 1961 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. JQ .SEPH PASCHLE. BY

3,058,239 TWIS'HNG DEVCE .loseph Rasehle, Butschwil, Switzerland, assignor to Heberlain Patent Corporation, New York, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 149,102 Claims priority, application Switzerland Nov. 10, 1960 8 Claims. (Cl. 57-77.3)

This invention relates to apparatus for imparting rotary motion to a twisting element. The device is especially useful for imparting a twist to a running length of textile yarn, referred to in the art as false twisting, and the present invention will be further described as it relates to an apparatus for false twisting textile yarns.

In a related copending application of August Kunzle and Willy Roth, Serial No. 850,908, led November 4, 1959, there is described and illustrated a false twisting device comprising a pair of axially parallel rollers, one of which is driven, which are spaced one from the other to form a crotch or throat therebetween. A twisting tube is positioned in this crotch in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of the rollers. The roller edges comprise outwardly extending flange pairs which may be in aligned or staggered relationship. Magnetic means are provided for acting upon a magnetically permeable portion of the twisting tube thereby maintaining the tube in the crotch or throat between rollers in close frictional engagement with the roller edges.

The magnetic means illustrated in said Kunzle et al. application is either a bar magnet or a horseshoe magnet, and in both instances the pole pieces are so positioned that the twisting tube is attracted toward the end or an effective end thereof, with provision for an air gap between twisting tube and pole piece. Experience directs that this air gap not exceed about 0.5 mm. in order to assure the attainment of maximum rotary speeds by the twisting tube.

It will be appreciated that such a small air gap is subject to change upon expansion and/ or contraction of certain parts of the apparatus as a result of temperature changes, and the gap will denitely be reduced through wear of the bearings supporting the rollers as well as wear on the peripheral edges of these rollers. As a result of wear the air gap between the twisting tube and the pole pieces of the magnet will ultimately be reduced to the point where virtually no gap exists, with resulting point friction between the pole pieces and the twisting tube which will appreciably slow down the rotary motion of the tube. It will then be necessary to adjust the position of the pole pieces to re-establish the desired air gap.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of the general type illustrated in the aforementioned Kunzle et al. application wherein adjustment of the pole pieces to compensate for the aforementioned expansion, contraction and wear is unnecessary. It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved magnetic pole piece configuration, positioning and arrangement in an apparatus employing magnet means to position a high speed twisting element in frictional engagement with a rotating driving roller. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus as above generally described which is capable of imparting rotary motion to one or a pair of twisting elements.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention broadly comprises a pair of rollers, one driven and one idler, which are so spaced from one another to form a crotch or throat between them. An elongated twisting element which has a magnetically permeable portion is positioned in the crotch in frictional engagement with ice the peripheral edges of the rollers by means of a magnet acting upon the magnetically permeable portion of the twisting element. The magnetic means employed comprises a pair of pole pieces the opposed faces of which are planar and substantially parallel. The parallel faces of the pole pieces are spaced from one another a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of the twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion and each respective pole face.

The rollers are arranged so that their axes are substantially parallel. Each roller preferably is made up of two spaced discs or flanges and the flanges of each roller or the rollers are so arranged that the flanges are in aligned relationship. The crotch or throat above referred to between the effective outer edges of the rollers is of a length defined by the distance between the spaced flanges of each roller. Two such crotches in fact exist as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The opposed parallel faces of the pole pieces extend from a point adjacent the axis of 4the twisting element, which point is preferably the end of each pole piece, in the direction of narrowing of the crotch. Where the apparatus is employed to impart rotary motion to a single twisting element, the spaced parallel surfaces of the pole faces extend in the direction of the narrowing of the crotch a distance at least equal to the radius of the twisting element at its magnetically permeable portion, and preferably to a plane passing through the roller axes. In the embodiment of the present invention wherein two twisting elements are caused to rotate, one in each crotch between the rollers, the length of the spaced parallel faces of the pole pieces is preferably substantially equal to the distance between the axes of the respective twisting elements.

For a further complete description of two preferred ernbodiments of the present invention, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a false twisting device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the apparatus of FIG. l illustrating the relationship between magnet, pole pieces and twisting elements;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the relative positions of magnet, pole pieces and a single twisting element, and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

Referring now to a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a carrier plate 11 is mounted on suitable carrier means, for example bars 12 and 13 and provided with a suitable handle 14 for engaging or disengaging movement as indicated by the arrows in FIG. l. Locking means, not shown, secure plate 11 in the desired engaging or disengaging position. Carrier plate 11 is provided with a pair of openings, through which pass shafts 1S and 15a which are rotatably mounted in bearing assemblies indicated generally at 9 and 10, respectively, in FIG. 2. lRoller assemblies indicated .generally at 16 and 17 are suitably secured to the upper end of each of the respective shafts. The roller assemblies each comprise a pair of discs or anges 18, 1S' and 19, 19', which are maintained in spaced apart relationship on each assembly by means of spacer elements 21 and 21'. Each ange is provided with a tire or rim 22, 22', 23, 23 which is constructed of a material having a high coecient of friction with respect to the material of the twisting element in contact therewith. The rims are preferably a modified natural or synthetic rubber.

The lower end of shaft 1S is provided with a friction collar 24 which engages a moving belt 26 when the apparatus is in the engaging or operating position illustrated in FIGS. l and 2.

The roller assemblies are so arranged that Ithe anges of each are in aligned relationship with those of the other roller. Roller assemblies 16 and 17 are so positioned and spaced apart as to provide an inner and an outer crotch or throat therebetween. The outer crotch 27 is on one side and the inner crotch 28 on the other side of a plane passing through the roller assembly axes. See FIG. 3. The edges of crotches 27 and 28 are defined by the peripheries or rims of the aligned roller flanges, with .the effective length of the crotches being limited by the upper and lower extremities of rims 22, 23 and 22, 23', respectively.

In the embodiment of =FIGS. 1-4 a pair of twisting elements 29 and 31 are disposed in crotches 27 and 28, respectively, in peripheral contact with the rims of roller assemblies 16 and 17. The axes of twisting elements 29 and 31 are substantially parallel and also parallel to the axes of the roller assemblies. In the embodiment illustrated twisting elements 29 and 31 are textile yarn false twisting tubes. The tubes are identical and each is provided with a forked upper end or head 32 into which is inserted a pin 33 Kof a hard material, e.g. sapphire, which is disposed transversely of the axis of rotation of the tube. A textile filament 34 which is to be treated is drawn from a supply device, not shown, passed through an aperture in plate 11 and then conducted through rotating tube 29, wound once around pin 33 and thence to a take-up device, not shown. A similar filament, not shown, is lead through tube 31.

The twisting element or rotating tubes 29 and 31 are each provided with a generally centrally disposed portion of high magnetic permeability. Each tube is provided with a portion 35 of increased diameter upon which is ,mounted a mass of high permeability, low loss magnetic material 36. This magnetically permeable portion 36 is .preferably formed of a plurality of juxtaposed discs of low loss sheet iron.

The twisting tubes are maintained in the crotches in the positions indicated in FIGS. 1-4 under the influence of magnetic means indicated as a horseshoe magnet 37. 'I'he tubes rotate in response to rotation of the driven roller 16 in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. Magnet 37 is provided with pole pieces 38 and 39 which extend into the space between rimmed flanges 18, 18 and 19, 19 of roller assemblies 16 and 17, respectively. It will be observed from FIGS. 1 and 3 that pole pieces 38 and 39 most closely approach each other in the area of crotches 27 and 28. Attention is particularly directed to FIGS. 2 and 3 where it is seen that in the aforesaid area between crotches the pole pieces possess planar surfaces or faces 38a and 39a, respectively, which are parallel to one another. The parallel planar faces 38a and 39a are of length substantially equal to the distance between the axes of twisting tubes 29 and 31, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. From FIGS. 2 and 4 it will be seen that the highly magnetically permeable portion 36 of each twisting tube is substantially aligned with pole pieces 38 and 39, and an air gap is provided between each pole face and the magnetically permeable portion of the twisting tube. The distance between pole faces 38a and 39a is equal to the maximum .thickness or diameter of the magnetically permeable portion of the twisting tube plus the desired air gap between portion 36 and each pole face. In a preferred embodiment of the present apparatus the air gap between each pole face and the magnetically permeable portion 36 of the twisting tube is about 0.3 mm.

While a permanent horseshoe magnet is shown disposed yat right angles to extending pole pieces, this arrangement is in the interest of conserving space. Electromagnetic means may be employed to induce the desired magnetic field between the parallel pole faces, if desired.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that rotary motion is imported to only one twisting element, namely twisting tube 29, which is positioned in the outer crotch 27 between roller assemblies 16 and 17 in close frictional engagement therewith. In this embodiment the parallel planar faces 48a and 49a of pole pieces 48 and 49, respectively, are of foreshortened length, extending from a point adjacent the axis of the twisting tube 29, that is from the effective end of the respective pole pieces, in the direction of' the plane passing through the axes of roller assemblies 16 and 17. Preferably they extend back into the crotch a distance equal to the depth thereof or in other words to this plane. Their parallel length should be at least equal to the radius of portion 36 of the twisting element. Pole faces 48a and 49a are spaced apart as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 4, that is a ditance at least equal to the diameter of magnetically permeable portion 36 of the twisting tube plus the desired air gap between each pole and that portion of the twisting tube.

In order to assure that maximum force may be employed to position the twisting tube most securely in the crotch or crotches between rollers, it is important that the maximum field existing between the pole pieces extend not substantially beyond the axis of the twisting element, that is to say, the field beyound the axis in the direction of widening of the crotch should be of lower strength than the magnetic field between the twisting element axis and the narrowest portion of the crotch. To this end it will be observed that in both embodiments illustrated the pole pieces do not extend beyond the axis of the twisting element in the outer crotch. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 4 the pole pieces are cut back as at 51 and 52 just inside the axis of twisting tube 31 in inner crotch 28 to produce a magnetic field of lower intensity toward the outer end of the crotch.

By reason of the fact that the pole faces are substantially planar, spaced from one another and arranged in parallel relationship in the apparatus of the present invention, it will be seen that as wear occurs upon the bearings or upon the rims of rollers 16 and 17 thus causing the crotches to widen slightly and the spindles to move toward one another the same air gap will be maintained between each face and the magnetically permeable portion of the twisting element.

I claim: v

l. Apparatus for imparting rotary motion to a twisting element, which comprises a pair of rollers, at least one of which is driven, spaced one from the other to form a crotch therebetween, an elongated twisting element, having a magnetically permeable portion, positioned in said crotch in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of said rollers, and magnetic means comprising a pair of opposed pole pieces the opposed faces of which are substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of said twisting element, said opposed faces being spaced one from the other a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of said twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion of the twisting element and each respective pole face, said opposed pole pieces acting magentically upon said twisting element maintaining the same in said position andfrictional engagement.

2. Apparatus for imparting rotary motion to a twisting element, which comprisesV a pair of bi-anged rollers, at least one of which is driven, spaced one from the other to form a narrowing crotch therebetween, an elongated twisting element, having a magnetically permeable portion, positioned in said crotch in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of the flanges of said rollers, and magnetic means comprising a pair of opposed pole pieces positioned intermediate said rollers, the opposed faces of which pieces are substantially parallel and spaced one from the other a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of said twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion of the twisting element and each respective pole face, the spaced parallel faces of said pole pieces extending in the direction of narrowing of said crotch, said opposed pole pieces acting magnetically upon said twisting element maintaining the same in said position and frictional engagement.

3. Apparatus for imparting rotary motion to a twisting element which comprises a pair of rollers, at least one of which is driven, each comprising a pair of spaced flanges, said rollers being spaced one from the other with the anges of each roller in aligned relationship to form a narrowing crotch therebetween, an elongated twisting element, having a magnetically permeable portion, positioned in said crotch in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of the roller flanges, and magnetic means comprising a pair of opposed pole pieces positioned intermediate the aligned flange pairs, the opposed faces 0f which pieces are substantially parallel and spaced one from the other a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of said twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion of the twisting element and each respective pole face, the spaced parallel faces of said pole pieces extending from a point adjacent the axis of the twisting element in the direction of narrowing of said crotch, said opposed pole pieces acting magnetically upon said twisting element maintaining the same in said position and frictional engagement.

4. Apparatus for imparting rotary motion to a twisting element which comprises a pair of axially parallel rollers, at least one of which is driven, each comprising a pair of spaced flanges, said rollers being spaced one from the other with the flanges of each in aligned relationship to form a narrowing crotch therebetween, a substantially cylindrical twisting element, having a magnetically permeable portion, positioned in said crotch in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of said roller anges and in axially substantially parallel relation with said rollers, and magnetic means comprising a pair of opposed pole pieces positioned intermediate the aligned ange pairs, the opposed faces of which pieces are substantially parallel and spaced one from the other a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of said twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion of the twisting element and each respective pole face, the spaced parallel faces of said pole pieces extending from a point adjacent the axis of the twisting element in the direction of narrowing of said crotch a distance at least equal to the radius of the twisting element at its magnetically permeable portion, said opposed pole pieces acting magnetically upon said twisting element maintaining the same in said position and frictional engagement.

5. Apparatus for imparting rotary motion to twisting elements, which comprises a pair of rollers, at least one of which is driven, spaced one from the other to form a pair of crotches therebetween, a twisting element having a magnetically permeable portion, positioned in each of said crotches in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of said rollers, and magnetic means comprising a pair of opposed pole pieces the opposed faces of which are substantially parallel to each other and to a plane including the longitudinal axes of said twisting elements, said opposed faces being spaced one from the other a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of said twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion of the twisting element and each respective pole face, said opposed -pole pieces acting magnetically upon said twisting elements maintaining the same in said positions and frictional engagement.

6. Apparatus for imparting rotary motion to twisting elements, which comprises a pair of rollers, at least one of which is driven, `each comprising a pair of spaced flanges, said rollers being `spaced one from the other with the tlanges of each roller in aligned relationship to form a pair of opposed crotches between the rollers, an elongated twisting element, having a magnetically permeable portion, positioned in each of said crotches in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of the roller flanges, and magnetic means comprising a pair of 0pposed pole pieces positioned intermediate the aligned flange pairs, the opposed faces of which pieces are substantially parallel and spaced one from the other a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of said twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion of the twisting element and each respective pole face, the spaced parallel faces of said pole pieces extending from a point adjacent the axis of one twisting element to a point adjacent the axis of the other twisting element, said opposed pole pieces acting magnetically upon said twisting elements maintaining the same in said positions and frictional engagement.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the length of the spaced parallel faces of said pole pieces is less than the distance between the axes of the twisting elements.

8. Apparatus `for imparting rotary motion to twisting elements, which comprises a pair of axially parallel rollers, at least one of which is driven, each comprising ya pair of spaced flanges, said rollers being spaced one from the other with flanges of each roller in aligned relationship to form a pair of opposed crotches between the rollers, a substantially cylindrical twisting element, having a magnetically permeable portion, positioned in each of said crotches in frictional engagement with the peripheral edges of the roller flanges and in axially substantially parallel relation with said rollers, and magnetic means comprising a pair of opposed pole pieces positioned intermediate the aligned ange pairs, the opposed faces of which pieces are substantially parallel and spaced one from the other a distance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the magnetically permeable portion of said twisting element plus the sum of the desired air gaps between said portion of the twisting element and each respective pole face, the spaced parallel faces of said pole pieces being of a length at least substantially equal to the distance between the axes of the twisting elements and substantially spanning the distance between said elements in their aforesaid positions, said opposed pole pieces acting magnetically upon said twisting elements maintaining the same in said positions and frictional engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 1,217,494 IFrance Dec. 7, 1959 1,239,013 France June 11, 1960 860,369 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1961 862,319 Great Britain Mar. 8, 1961 

